Online courses offer students a variety of benefits, including the flexibility to pursue your degree while balancing work and family commitments. However, online classes can present some unique challenges if you aren’t prepared. Here are some tips for making sure that you make the most of your online class experience:
The flexibility to create your own schedule is one of the greatest benefits to taking online classes, but with that flexibility comes a greater responsibility to develop a schedule that works for your learning style. At the beginning of the semester, be sure to review the syllabus and make note of major assignments, quizzes, and exams. Mark them on your calendar so you can begin planning how much time you need to prepare for those dates. You may also want to create a weekly schedule, designating certain hours each week to review your online class content, complete assignments, and study.
As a Blinn student, you have a wealth of academic resources available to help you in your academic journey. Our campus libraries offer a wealth of online resources and research tools. Blinn also offers online tutoring to help you make the grade!
Identify the study habits that work best for your personal learning style. Find the locations and times of day when you can best focus, and set aside time each day when you can study without distraction. Remember that you can always break large assignments into smaller once and work short, frequent study breaks into your schedule. Keep experimenting until you find the study habits that work best for you!
Participating in the course’s online session or forum can help you and your classmates better understand the material. If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification.
Just because you are enrolled in an online class doesn’t mean that your professor can’t be there for you. Stay in regular contact with your professor and let them know if you feel yourself falling behind. The sooner you ask questions and report issues, the sooner your professor can help you succeed!
Want to learn more about how Blinn’s online course offerings can put you on the path to a degree? Visit www.blinn.edu/online for more information!